For the sixth consecutive year, NDCL's mock trial teams have advanced to regional competition after prevailing in district trials...
Mock Trial Teams Excel
For the sixth consecutive year, NDCL’s mock trial teams have advanced to regional competition after prevailing in district trials.
Two of the teams – Team Gold and Team Blue – will compete in the regional trials on Feb. 19 and 20. Team Purple, consisting entirely of freshmen, lost in districts by a razor-thin margin, but snagged several individual awards, which bodes very well for the future.
Because of the pandemic, this year’s mock trial competition is entirely virtual, with teams competing on a series of days instead of a single trial date. All teams focused on a single case that focused on prosecutors’ duty to disclose exculpatory evidence during plea negotiations.
NDCL students won 10 individual awards in the district trials, including: Best Attorneys – senior Connor Marrott, juniors Mallory Sah and Sarah Boyle, and freshmen Tuscani Orris and Ryan Shemitz; and Best Witnesses – senior Madison Roger, sophomore Bailey Rice and freshmen Erin Lee, Hailey Karban and Jessica Mekhel.
The Lions owe much of their success to the expert advice provided by their dedicated and generous volunteer legal advisors, including Martin Delahunty (Jackie ’16 and JD ‘17); Judge Carolyn Paschke and Perrin Sah, parents junior Mallory Sah and Garrett Sah ’20; and Kimberly Baioni, mother of sophomore Victoria; Nick Burling ’01 from the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office; and Judge Michael Shaughnessy (Megan ‘12 and Kate ‘18).
Special thanks to Judge Terri Stupica and Ryan Callender (father of sophomore Jackson and Carter’19), who officiated scrimmages for the teams. Briana Cowman ’18, a current member of the mock trial team at Miami University, and Emily Callahan ’20, a current member of the Northwestern University mock trial team, also helped the teams during their winter break.
English teachers Victoria Frabotta ’86 and Katie Martin ‘14, and social studies teacher Ross Martin advise NDCL’s mock trial teams.
Collegiate Athletic Intentions Declared
During a signing ceremony the afternoon of Feb. 3 attended by many relatives, coaches and others in the O’Brien Center, seven NDCL seniors declared their collegiate athletic intentions:
Noah Coyne, football and track and field, Case Western Reserve University; Zander Gibson, golf, Rider University; Ryan Hanzak, bowling, Walsh University; Audrey Joyce, basketball, Franciscan University; Eric Leinweber, soccer, University of Detroit Mercy; Triston O’Brien, football, University of Cincinnati; and Missy Sterkel, volleyball, Belmont University.
Annual Spirit Week
Undaunted by the limitations imposed by the pandemic, NDCL’s annual Spirit Week proved to be the perfect vaccine against the wintertime blahs with fun activities, exciting class competitions, delicious lunchtime treats and even a virtual, high-energy pep rally that crowned the Class of 2021 as this year’s spirit champions.
Rather than be defeated by the coronavirus, the leaders of NDCL’s Student Activities Board and their advisers creatively reworked traditional Spirit Week activities and even added new ones – all in COVID-safe ways.
The always-popular coin war between classes raised $5,300, far surpassing the $1,000 goal and setting a new school record. Proceeds from the friendly class competition will fund NDCL’s new chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Special thanks to NDCL’s dedicated and enthusiastic educators who worked tirelessly with student leaders to organize a fun-filled, creative and mission-driven Spirit Week: Student Activities Board lead adviser and mathematics teacher Ericka Bella, social studies teacher Lexie Danch ’15, English teacher Maura McGinty-O’Hara, Director of Campus Ministry Halle McKeon, Director of Student Leadership Ben Lozar ’09 and Wellness Coordinator Pete DeMichele.
